RESOURCES

BOARD AND TRAIN NOTES & INFO

First and foremost, thank you for entrusting me with your dog! Over the past two weeks your fluffy family member and I have worked hard and played hard, and Fido is coming home much more educated. Your dog has learned the basics of obedience as well as right vs wrong. He will be much more likely to listen and look to you for guidance now that the doors of communication are open. 

I start by teaching Fido basic obedience, which builds our relationship as well as our ability to communicate with and understand each other.  Your dog has learned how to walk nicely on leash (heel), sit, stay, down, and come when called. This is trained by teaching Fido what each command is, involving putting his body in said position, saying the command, and rewarding him with love when he has performed. Once Fido has proven that he knows and understands the word I am using I will issue a correction, such as a tug on Fido’s collar. When Fido performs the command he gets rewarded with love, when he chooses not to listen, he gets a little tug. By creating a black and white, structured learning environment Fido begins to enjoy listening and prefers life when he chooses to listen, making training fun for him. 

Now that he is back home with you it is crucial that Fido understands that the rules do not change just because he is back home. You will need to set up structured training time, on leash, in which you go through his commands, asking him to perform each command at least 3 times, if he listens, give him lots of love and pets, if he does not, issue a tug on his collar and repeat commands. By doing this you are reinforcing his training and showing him that you also know this language he has been taught. I recommend doing this in a structured way for about a week to fully reinforce what he has been taught. Afterwards, as long as everything has gone well, move on to unstructured training and begin giving him commands throughout the day and expect him to follow through. Continue the same rules of rewarding him with lots of love and correcting him by a small tug on whatever collar he has on. This will be trickier without holding the leash which is why reinforcing on leash first is crucial. 

One of the best things about opening up communication is that we begin to make “no” mean more by issuing tugs at the same time as saying the word. This comes in handy when Fido is doing something around the house that we don't want him to do (such as picking up a sock). Because “no” means more  Fido will be much more likely to listen and stop what he is doing. If you notice he is not listening as well as you would like, go back to your structured obedience and begin making the correction for grabbing the sock mean more. You can do this by being louder with your “no” and ensuring that you’re giving a tug with the “no”. This concept works for anything that you do not want Fido doing. 

At the end of the day, Fido is still your fluffy family member and as much as we want him to be perfect he will make mistakes. Be patient with him and with yourself and make time to have fun with him as well. Spending time training him, playing with him, and loving on him will grow your bond with each other. Enjoy living life with your educated good boy!

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL SOCIALIZATION

So let’s take a moment to imagine the lives that our dogs lead. Imagine for a minute that you are a young, athletic and highly intelligent being that is hard wired to please their owner. Now take a second to visualize the lifestyle that your dog currently leads. If you work a 9 to 5 job like so many Americans do, there is a good chance that your dog wakes up with you, goes into the back yard while you get ready for work and starts digging holes and destroying the lawn furniture. Your dog may even be barking at random things or joining the chorus of other dogs barking in neighborhood. You want to walk them and take your dog to the dog park and all of the dog friendly places to eat in the area but your dog is far too hyper for that, so you tend to leave them home. Your dog is getting increasingly more difficult to control, frustrations are becoming way more frequently. You don’t want to crate them during the day but the chew in home constantly. You wonder what to do, walking your dog just isn’t doing the same thing it used to. This is the story we hear time and time again as dog trainers. Thankfully there is a solution and it is all about physical and mental stimulation.  Are you noticing your furry friend having weird habits/tendencies? Does your dog dig in the yard, chew his paw, or obsessively spin in circles? All of these habits plus much more could be a sign of boredom in your family pet. Imagine, if you were an incredibly intelligent left home alone Dogs, being originally domesticated to perform tasks for their owners, have a desire to work for you. Whether it is practicing your basic obedience commands, teaching your dog to play fun games, or taking your dog on outings with you, it is important that your pet is able to use both his brain and body some every day.First and foremost, ensure you are walking your dog. This is something that often times goes over looked but it is absolutely essential. The first thing we want to start with your dog is teaching him basic obedience. Practicing your obedience commands (sit, down, stay, and come) is a great way to help your dog use his brain in a positive way. Not only is it great for your dog to be excellent at his commands but this also requires a good amount of mental stimulation as well. When working on this with your dog be sure to do so in a structured way (walking back and forth in a line) as well as in an unstructured way (when your dog is free in the home). Practicing obedience commands should be coupled with a daily walk to ensure your dog is getting the physical exercise needed as well. A great way to pair this together is while  you are on your walk ensure your dog is always in the heel command, this requires a great amount of concentration that your dog would not otherwise have if not in heel. Then, while on your walk, be sure to go through the other commands sporadically. By giving your dog obedience commands while on a walk you are pairing the mental stimulation and physical exertion your dog needs!Playing with your dog can be another great way to get him the exercise he needs and have fun doing it. Games such as fetch and tug of war are great to keep your dogs brain occupied as well as allowing him to have some fun. When playing with your dog one way to keep his brain working is to incorporate some training in with playtime! Asking your dog to sit once he has brought the ball back or by asking him to “drop it” while playing tug of war are both great ways to keep your furry friend from playing too rough and ensuring that he is still in a listening mindset. Another fun activity to do with your dog is to practice some agility! Not all dogs are designed for agility but if you have a hyperactive dog who loves to run this may be a great way to get some of his energy out while getting him mentally stimulated as well. If you have a dog who loves to use his nose it may be fun to teach your dog scent work as a game. Spending some time allowing your dog to sniff out a tennis ball, treat or bone is fun for you and your dog and keeps his brain active and alert. Playing easy games with your dog is exciting for both you and him and not only allows your dog to get the mental and physical exercise he needs but it also bonds you with him, creating a better life for both you and your dog.  One thing pet owners often overlook is how dog friendly restaurants and stores are becoming. Rather than crating your dog while you run errands an alternative is to take him with you! Places such as Home Depot, Lowes, and even some Home Goods are dog friendly and this can be a great way for your dog to get great mental stimulation and socialization. A way to easily tie this into your life is planning date nights or casual time with friends at your local dog-friendly patio bar! There are tons of these popping up and it is a fun thing to do for both you and your furry friend. When taking your dog on outings and errands with you it is important to keep in mind that these restaurants and stores do usually have rules regarding your pet and it is necessary to abide by these rules in order for the stores to continue to allow our beloved pets.It is not always necessary for your dog to be with you everywhere you go but by including him in some outings, making time to play with him, or just taking him on a daily walk and practicing obedience you will find your dog to be happier, calmer, and in a better overall state of mind. It is important to remember that while our canine friends do love cuddling up and lounging around the house, they also need daily exercise and mental stimulation in order to be the happy, calm, and loving dog that you desire.